Reciprocating plunger pump



Aug. 3, 1943. J. c. GROFF- RECIPROCATING PLUNGER PUMPS Filed Feb. 8, 1941 I ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nacrraocarmc PLUNGER PUMP Joseph C. Grofl', Allentown, Pa. Application February a, 1941, Serial No. 378,000

2 Claims. (01. s 1ss) This invention relates to improvements in power driven reciprocating plunger pumps, and is more particularly directed to the provisionof means to facilitate removal of the plungers of such pumps of vertical construction having the fluid-end thereof located at the top.

In this connection, it is to be pointed out that heretofore for the accomplishment of this purpose it has been the practice with such pumps to require (1) provision of a separate opening and cover therefor; or, (2) provision of overhead discharge values having seat portions which ,must be removable from the fluid-end; or; (3)

renioval of the plungers downward through the anism; or, (4) removal of the fluid end as a unit which objectionably involves disconnecting same from the fluid inlet and discharge piping.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision of means, whereby the plungers of such pumps may be withdrawn and/or inserted through the top ends of their boxes in the fluid end,'-without removing the fluid-end from the'pump structure, without dismantling any of the plunger operating mechanism below; and without removing the seats of the discharge valves.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby each of the pumping chambers of such a pump may be arranged to have its discharge valve located in the uppermost part thereof, while affording Other and more detailed objects and advantages of the present invention will be hereinafter pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawing which, by way of illustration shows which I now consider to be preferred embodiments of my invention. Inthedrawing: Fig. 1 shows a lateral cross-sectional view through one-of the pumping units of a vertical multi-unit reciprocating-plunger power-pump having the fluid-end thereof located at the top and with the plungers .arranged tobe operated through stufiing-boxes located in the bottom of the pressure side of the pump, including nuts,

retaining plate, valve cover, valve spring and valve.

Referring more particularly-to the drawing, 3

is the fluid-end of the pump containing the pumping chambers 4 each respectively connectsider it desirable to make the inlet valves 0 and discharge valves 8, together with their seats 9 and I0 and springs H and I2 respectively, of the samesize and design so as to be inter-changeable. However, in any case, to accomplish the principal object of this invention, I construct discharge valves 8' and valveseat inserts H) to be of a size such that the inside diameter of the axial bore of the latter exceeds the outside diameter of the plunger I3 by at least a small amount. This to permit passage of plunger I3 through the bore of the aforesaid valve-seat insert III for removing or inserting the plunger.

:Iunction'with the removable split ring l8 whose l9, spring l2 and valve 8 and pull the plunger vertically upwards using any suitable means such as the lifting bolt 20 which threads into the top of the plunger as shown in Fig. 2. This, of course, after first disconnecting the plunger from crosshead l6 by removing the sleeve nut I1 and the ring halves I8. I

With the plunger removed, the condition of the stuffing-box packing I4 may be examined,

around its entire circumference by observation down through the valve seat l0, Without disturbing the packing. This makes it possible to ascertain whether the packing M, as installed, is functioning all along its length; whether the end joints of the respective rings of packing are properly staggered, etc., with a minimum of time and trouble for so doing.

Novel provision is made to facilitate replacing the plungers l3 without damaging the stufiingbox packing 14 when they are inserted downwards. This is accomplished by making the lower portion of the plungersof less diameter than the upper cylindrical portion thereof, which contacts the packing, and providing a gradually tapered conical entering surface between the aforesaid portions of different diameter.

I do not intend to rigidly confine myself to the various details of the particular preferred embodiment shown and described as it will be readily apparent to any one skilled in the art that various elements may be varied without departing from the broad scope of the invention. For example, while it is desirable to arrange the discharge valves and their seat inserts so as to be substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the plungers for manufacturing reasons, the same objective may be achieved if the axial centers of the valves are offset from, to be eccentric with respect to that of the plungers provided, however, that the bore of the seat inserts is sufficiently larger to permit passage of the plunger therethrough. And, the discharge valve-seat inserts l may be secured semi-permanently to the fluid-end diiferently than with a tapered drive fit as shown, by using a threaded connection therewith; a cylindrical press or shrink fit there with, etc. And, further, the replaceable discharge valve-seat insert [0 might be eliminated to instead machine the guide-bore and seat for said valve in the fluid-end block 3 itself. And, of course, the discharge valve itself may be of different construction than as shown, in that it might have a fiat seat instead of a tapered or bevel seat.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. vertical reciprocating plunger pump having a reciprocating'driving member, and including in combination a fluid-end construction having a substantially vertically extending bored out portion, a vertically acting plunger working within said bored out portion and disconnectably attached to said reciprocating driving member, a stuffing box. including compressible packing in the lower portion of said bore through which the lower end of the plunger works, a removable discharge valve near the upper end of said bore and above the top of the plunger, said valve having valve seating portions having an inner bore laterally guiding the discharge valve and of a diameter exceeding the diameter of the portion of the plunger which slides through the stuiiing box, said valve seating portions comprising a valve seat insert in said fluid end, a removable retaining cover for said discharge valve, the aforesaid construction afiording removal of the plunger upwards and out through the inner bore of the valve-seat portions of the discharge valve with JOSEPH C. GROFF. 

